Warm Winter Salad for Two

Description:

Sautéed radicchio, fennel and carrots are topped with chicken, walnuts and Gorgonzola in this warm and hearty main-dish salad. Serve with crusty whole-grain baguette.

Ingredients:

8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed of fat

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 pear, sliced

1 small shallot, minced

3 tablespoons sherry vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 small head radicchio, thinly sliced

1 small fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced

1 large carrot, cut into matchsticks

1 tablespoon chopped walnuts, toasted (see Tip)

1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste

6 large butter lettuce leaves

1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola, or goat cheese

Preparation:

1

Poach chicken (see Tip). Use 2 forks to shred into bite-size pieces.

2

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pears and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.

3

Whisk shallot, vinegar and mustard in a small bowl; add to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Add the cooked chicken, radicchio, fennel, carrot and walnuts. Cook, stirring occasionally, until just wilted, about 3 minutes. Return the pears to the pan. Season with salt and pepper.

4

Divide lettuce leaves between 2 plates. Top with the warm chicken salad and sprinkle with cheese.

Tips:

Tips: To toast chopped walnuts, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes. To poach chicken, place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a medium skillet or saucepan and add lightly salted water to cover; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes.